Calcium homeostasis is a fundamental topic taught in medical education. Due to variation in the scope and complexity of calcium homeostasis feedback loops across medical texts, a classification table can help medical educators in selecting a figure that best aligns with their curriculum, allowing for educator optimization in improving student learning. This literature review aims to identify textbook figures representing calcium homeostasis, analyze their characteristics, and create a resource to guide medical educators in selecting appropriate figures. Medical physiology textbooks reviewed were chosen from curricula at 22 MD and 13 DO U.S. medical schools. Publications prior to 2020 or intended specifically for board preparation were excluded, resulting in six English-language textbooks matching inclusion criteria. Chapter titles were filtered by calcium, renal, kidney, endocrine, or endocrinology. Then, figures were filtered by homeostasis or feedback loop and chosen if the caption included calcium and the figure represented feedback or homeostasis loops. As such, eight figures were identified. Each figure was assessed for inclusion of hormones, albumin, phosphate, vitamins, organ systems, visuals, concentrations, and the type of feedback loop. Figures were then grouped into three categories. Group 1 figures do not include concentrations, albumin, or phosphate; they can be utilized as introductory figures to the topic. Group 2 figures contain chemical names, formulas, and/or include concentrations, targeted towards an intermediate knowledge base. Group 3 figures include complementary processes with phosphate and/or albumin, making them for a comprehensive review. Out of the eight figures analyzed, two are in Group 1, two are Group 2, and four are in Group 3. This literature review not only guides medical educators and students, but also lays groundwork for future research regarding individualized learning.
